Sanitary spray apparatus



July 17, 1956 J. GLUCK ETAL SANITARY SPRAY APPARATUS Filed Dec. 14, i955 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Jerome G/uck y Al'fhU/Q Oaks W/QW July 17, 1956 Filed Dec. 14, 1953 J. GLUCK ET AL SANITARY SPRAY APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I j a/zzd INVENTORJ Jerome G/uck BY Ar/hur Q. Oaks July 17, 1955 GLUCK m- 2,754,820

SANITARY SPRAY APPARATUS Filed Dec. 14, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TORJ Jerome Q/uck y Arf/vur Q,Oa/ s Afforne 2,754,820 7 SANITARY SPRAY APPARATUS Jerome Gluck, Miami Beach, and Arthur Q. Oaks, Miami, Fla., assignors to Sanaspray Manufacturing Co., Miami, Fla., a corporation of Florida Application December 14, 1953, Serial No. 397,950 7 Claims. (Cl. 128-227) This invention relates to a sanitary spray device and is more particularly directed to such a spray device permanently installed as an accessory for use with toilet bowls for vaginal and rectal douches and other personal cleansing functions.

Therefore, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary spray apparatus which is adapted to be permanently installed as an accessory for use with a toilet bowl thereby effecting a convenient and efficient manner of cleansing or medicating ones person.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a spray apparatus characterized as above whereby a spray under high pressure is produced thereby permitting a more complete and thorough cleansing and medication than could be effected by a spray produced by water under low pressure or gravity flow.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary spray apparatus with a vacuum breaker on the pressure side of the cutoff valve so as to prevent any possibility of contaminating the water supply by siphonic action.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a sanitary spray apparatus described as above having a weighted member on the discharge tubing to prevent the possibility of the nozzle being inadvertently left in the toilet bowl.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary spray apparatus with a flexible hose con nection which is simple in construction yet effects an extremely strong, tight and leak-proof connection.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends, the invention further resides in those novel details of construction which will be first described in detail and then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the sanitary spray apparatus embodying our invention shown installed on a toilet bowl.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the vacuum breaker shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of Figure 1.

- Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the structure shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of hose connections at the position of a weighted member.

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the nozzle retaining clip.

Figure 7 is an elevational view partially in section of the nozzle and flexible hose connection.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals are used to refer to similar parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 designates generally our improved spray apparatus shown mounted on a conventional toilet bowl-11 onwhich a water tank 12 is supported and a toilet seat 13 is pivotally mounted as at 14.

In order to provide a compact and neat appearing apparatus suitable for a modern bathroom, the various fittings, connections and valves (explained in detail herein- United States Patent 0 2,754,820 Patented July 17, 1956 'ice V of the support plate 15 there is a hanger bolt 21 extending through an elongated slot 22 and secured thereto by a pair of nuts 23, the upper portion of the hanger bolt 21 engaging the rear ledge of the toilet bowl 11.

Extending through the flange 17 are the handles 24 and 25 of valves 26 and 27 for hot and cold water respectively which valves 26 and 27 are mounted on a flanged support member 28 secured to the support plate 15 by a plurality of bolts 29. The inlets 20 and 30 of the valves 26 and 27 respectively are connected to a source of hot and cold water (not shown) by means of the tubing 20a and 30a, respectively while the outlets 31 and 32 of the valves 26 and 27 respectively are connected together by means of a plurality of fittings 34 joining the leg portions of an L-connector 33 which, in turn has its outlet connected by a pipe 34 to a valve 35. A valve handle 36 of the valve 35 extends upwardly through the support plate 15 so as to be readily accessible to a person desiring to use the device 10. The outlet of the valve 35 is connected to a pipe 38 which extends upwardly and is connected to an inlet 39 of a vacuum breaker 40 whose function and details of construction are explained hereinafter. An outlet 41 of the vacuum breaker 40 is connected to a tubing 42 which extends downwardly to a leg of an L-fitting or connector 43secured to the support plate 15 by means of a bolt 45; the other leg of the fitting 43 is connected to a relatively short length of plastic hose 46. A second and longer section of plastic hose 47 is connected to the hose 46 by a pipe 48 on whose end portions there is a ferrule 90. The end portions on each of which there is a threaded coupling 51 are received by the hoses 46 and 47 as is best shown in Figure 5. The couplings 51 are threaded directly onto the ends of the plastic hoses 46 and 47 to a position whereby the forward ends of the couplings 51 engage the hoses at the ferrules thereby effecting a strong'and leakproof connection. A weighted member 49 provided with a bore 50 slightly larger in diameter than that of the pipe 48 is slidably mounted on the pipe 48 between the couplings 51. The length of the hose 46 is less than the distance from the L-fitting 43 to the toilet seat 13. Therefore, the weighted member 49 cannot reach the position of the toilet seat 13 and will slip therefrom if placed on the toilet seat 13 or in the toilet bowl 11, so that under no circumstances can the hose 47 remain inadvertently in the toilet bowl 11.

The free end of the plastic hose 47 is provided with a readily releasable, but leakproof connector for joining hoses of different diameters such as the hose 47 being connected to a hose 52 of larger diameter whose other end is connected to a douche 53 as at 54. A sleeve 55 of slightly larger diameter than the inside diameter of the tubing 47 is fitted at the end of the tubing 47. The end of the plastic tubing 52 is then slid over the end of the tubing 47 and a further sleeve 56 of larger diameter than the outside diameter of the tubing 52 but less than the sum total of the outside diameter of the sleeve 55 and the wall thicknesses of the combined hoses 47 and 52.

The douche 53 consists of an elongated body portion 57 on one end of which an elbow 58 is threaded and on whose other end a nozzle tip 58 is likewise threaded. A bore 59 extends through the elbow 58 and body 57 and communicates with a threaded chamber 60 at the free end of the douche 53. The nozzle tip 58 is provided with a threaded portion 61, a chamber 62, a plurality of bores 63 communicating with the chamber 62 and a shoulder 64 adjacent the threads 61. The shoulder 64 permits the nozzle tip 58 to be threaded into the nozzle 53 to a position whereby a circumferential opening 65 is formed between the nozzle tip 58 and the nozzle 53, which opening 65 communicates with bores 63 to ejecta cone-shaped spray fluid. A medicament 66 such as potassium permanganate in a tablet form is placed in the chambers 60 and 62 so that as the water flows through the nozzle 53 the medicament 66 is dissolved and discharged by the water. When the douche nozzle 53 is not in use, it is supported by a spring clip 68 secured to the underside of the plate support by the bolts 67 and having a slot 69 formed by the resilient arms 79 and 71 by which the douche nozzle 53 is releasably retained. A flanged member 72 extends horizontally from the arm 71 and with a raised edge portion 73 is adapted to support a coil of the p astic tubing 47 thereon.

The vacuum breaker consists of a pair of chambers 75 and 76 which are separated by a flexible diaphragm 77 though the two chambers 75 and 76 communicate with each other by means of a duct 78 in a rod 79. The vacuum breaker 40 is provided with a vent 80 through which the rod 79 extends; the inner portion of the vent 80 is provided with a valve seat 81 which is engaged by a valve 82 mounted on the rod 79. The lower end of the rod 79 is secured to the flexible diaphragm 77 by the nuts 83, 83 threaded on the rod 79 on either side of the flexible diaphragm 77. A yoke 84 which extends about the upper portion of the vacuum breaker 40 has a support clip 85 secured thereto for supporting the vacuum breaker 40 on the upper portion of the water tank 12. The rod 79 extends through a bore 86 in the yoke which acts as a stop for a coil spring 87. The spring 87 encircles the rod 79 and abuts at its lower end against a nut 88 which can be adjusted thereon to vary the spring pressure 87.

The function of a vacuum breaker 40 is to prevent a back or reverse flow of fluid therethrough that would normally be eflFected by a siphonic action. The source of water (not shown) is the potable water supply furnished by high pressure mains. As long as the pressure of the water is maintained at a high level there is no danger of having that water become contaminated. However, in the event, the water pressure should drop, the outlets, such as the douche nozzle 53 if immersed in contaminated water become inlets and permit the contaminated water to be siphoned back into the main water lines. In the vacuum breaker '40, if there is a drop in pressure in the inlet water line 38 and 39, the spring pressure 87 will cause the flexible diaphragm to flex downwardly since there will be a suction elfect created in the chamber 76, and the rod 79 will slide downwardly carrying the valve '82 to its opened position thereby permitting air to be drawn in the vacuum breaker 40 through the vent 80. The air thus drawn into the vacuum breaker 40 will pass into the chamber 75, through the duct 78 and into the chamber 76 where it passes through the piping system to the main water line. In the normal operation of the vacuum breaker 40, water enters into the chamber 76 through the pipe 38 exerting a pressure against the flexible diaphragm 77 and the spring pressure 87 and effecting a seating of the valve 82 on the valve seat 81, so that the water may flow from the chamber 76 through the duct 78 into the chamber 75 and through the outlet 41 into the tubing 42.

In preparing the device It for normal use, the valve handles 24 and 25 are adjusted to permit the proper proportioning of the hot and cold water. Then the nozzle 53 is removed from the retaining clip 68 and the coiled hose taken from the ledge support 72. The nozzle tip 58 is now unthreadecl from the douche 53 and a medicinal tablet is placed in the chamber 68, after which the nozzle tip 58 is threaded into place. The valve handle 36 is now opened to the desired position thereby permitting the -flow of water through the system as described hereinbefore and discharged from the douche nozzle 53 as a medicated spray under the desired water pressure.

What we claim as new is:

1. A sanitary spray apparatus adapted to be secured to a toilet bowl comprising a support member, means securing said support to said toilet bowl, a pair of valves mounted on said support member, said valves each having an inlet and an outlet, pipe means connected at one end to said inlets of said valves, said pipe means being adapted to be connected to a source of hot and cold water at their other end, second pipe means connecting said outlets of said valves together, a vacuum breaker having an inlet and an outlet, third pipe means connecting said second pipe means and said inlet of said vacuum breaker, an L-fitting mounted on said support, said L-fitting having an inlet and an outlet, fourth pipe means connecting said outlet of said vacuum breaker and said inlet of said L-fitting, a flexible hose connected at one end to said outlet of said L-fitting, said flexible hose being of shorter length than the distance from said L-fitting to a seat of said toilet bowl, a second flexible hose, weighted connection means joining the other end of said first named flexible hose and one end of said second flexible hose, and spray nozzle means connected to the other end of said second flexible hose.

2. The structure as recited by claim 1 wherein said vacuum breaker comprises a body member, a flexible diaphragm mounted in said body member thereby forming a pair of chambers each communicating with said outlet and said inlet of said vacuum breaker, a vent in said body member in communication with one of said chambers, a valve seat contained on said vent, a rod extending through said vent and having one end secured to said flexible diaphragm, a valve mounted on said rod in contact engagement with said valve seat, spring means mounted on said rod urging said valve to an open position, and a duct contained in said rod connecting said chambers.

3. A sanitary spray apparatus comprising a plate support member, means securing said plate support member in a horizontal position to a toilet bowl, a plurality of depending flanges mounted along the edge portion of said plate support member, a pair of valves having an outlet and an inlet mounted on the lower wall surface of said plate support member, said valves each having a valve handle extending through one of said depending flanges, a hot and cold water pipe connected at one end to each of said inlets, a T fitting secured to said plate support adjacent said valves, said T fitting having a pair of inlets and an outlet, a second pipe connecting each of said outlets of said valves and said inlets of said T fitting, a vacuum breaker having an inlet and an outlet, means suspending said vacuum breaker above said plate support member, a third pipe connecting said outlet of said T fitting and said inlet of said vacuum breaker, an L-fitting having an inlet and an outlet secured to said plate support member adjacent said T fitting, a fourth pipe connecting said outlet of said vacuum breaker and said inlet of said L-fittin'g, a first flexible hose connected at one end to said outlet of said L-fitting, said first flexible hose being of shorter length than the distance from said L-fitting to the seat portion said toilet bowl, a second flexible hose, weighted connection means joining the other end of said first flexible hose and one end of said second flexible hose, douche nozzle means connected to the other end of said second flexible hose, and supporting clip means mounted on the lower wall surface of said plate support member adapted to removably support said nozzle means.

4. The structure as recited by claim 3 wherein said douche nozzle means comprises an elongated body portion, a duct extending through said body portion, a chamber contained at one end of said body portion communicating with said duct, a nozzle tip threadedly mounted in said chamber, a further chamber contained in said nozzle tip adapted to receive a medicament, said further chamber being in communication with said duct, and a plurality of outlet bores contained by said nozzle tip, said bores communicating with said further chamber.

5. The structure as recited by claim 3 wherein said weighted connection means comprises an inflexible tubing, a ferrule mounted adjacent each end of said inflexible tubing, said end of said first flexible hose and said one end of said second flexible hose extending over said ferrule on said inflexible tubing, a cap slidably mounted on each end of said inflexible tubing, the inside diameter of said cap being less than the outside diameter of said first and second flexible hoses, threaded means contained on the inside wall of said cap adapted to form threads on said first and second flexible tubings as said caps are threaded in a direction of said ferrules, and a weighted member slidably mounted on said inflexible tubing between said caps.

6. A douche nozzle comprising an elongated body, a fluid passageway extending substantially the full length of said body, said body having a chamber at one end in communication with said fluid passageway, said chamber having a throat portion adjacent said fluid passageway of greater diameter than said fluid passageway adapted to retain a medicament, threaded means contained in said chamber adjacent said throat portion, said chamber being of increased diameter and forming a shoulder adjacent said threaded means, a nozzle tip threadedly mounted in said chamber and engaging said shoulder in said chamber, a discharge duct in said nozzle tip, said nozzle tip having a plurality of bores communicating with said discharge duct and a peripheral slot formed between said nozzle 30 tip and said end of said elongated body in communication with said bores whereby fluid flowing through said fluid passageway dissolves said medicament in said throat portion and is discharged through said peripheral slot.

7. A vacuum breaker comprising a body member, a flexible diaphragm mounted in said body member forming an upper and a lower chamber, an inlet communicating with said lower chamber, an outlet communicating with said upper chamber, a vent in said body member communicating with said upper chamber, a valve seat contained on said vent, a rod extending through said vent and having one end secured to said flexible diaphragm, a valve mounted on said rod in contact engagement with said valve seat, spring means mounted on rod yieldingly urging said valve out of engagement with said valve seat, and a duct contained in said rod connecting said upper and lower chambers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 172,344 Ross Jan. 18, 1876 1,295,706 Dailey Feb. 25, 1919 2,557,536 Drane June 19, 1951 2,600,731 Carlton June 17, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 432,842 Great Britain Aug. 2, 1935 

